SRA appoints Caroline Corby as Chair

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced that Caroline Corby will take on the role of Chair of the Board effective from 23 November 2026. Currently serving as the Chair of the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), Caroline will succeed Anna Bradley, who has decided to step down after an eight-year tenure announced earlier this year.

Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, Caroline Corby stated, ‘I am delighted to be joining the SRA as Chair of the Board. The UK’s legal services sector is rightly seen as a global leader that supports businesses, strengthens the rule of law and drives confidence in our legal system.’ She also emphasised the need for strong regulation, noting, ‘Strong and effective regulation is fundamental to that success, creating the conditions that drive the public’s trust in legal services.’

Sarah Rapson, the Chief Executive of the SRA, highlighted the significance of Corby's appointment during this critical period for the organisation. She remarked, 'Caroline will be joining us as Chair of the Board at such an important time. She brings a wealth of experience in regulation, governance and public protection, as well as a strong track record of leading organisations through change and improvement.' Rapson reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to public protection while fostering a vibrant legal sector, expressing confidence in Corby's abilities to guide the SRA in becoming a more proactive and intelligence-led regulator.

The recruitment process that led to Corby’s appointment was conducted by an external agency and involved an independent selection panel chaired by Lisa Mayhew, the Senior Independent Board member. Lisa Mayhew remarked, ‘Caroline stood out through a highly competitive recruitment process. She combines deep regulatory expertise with a clear commitment to protecting consumers and maintaining public confidence.' She further praised Corby’s record of navigating transformation within the regulatory landscape and pledged support for the ambitious agenda of the SRA.

In thanking Anna Bradley for her service, Mayhew said, ‘On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Anna Bradley for her service to the SRA over the past eight years. Her tenure has spanned a period of considerable change for both the organisation and the legal sector, and we are grateful for her dedication and commitment.’

The SRA’s executive operations are supervised by a Board comprising ten non-executive directors and one executive director, including six lay members and four solicitor members. The Board's objective is to provide effective leadership alongside a robust control framework to fulfil its regulatory responsibilities in the public interest. Meetings take place approximately eight times a year, encompassing formal discussions and workshop-style gatherings.

Caroline Corby joins the SRA following her successful term at the PSA, where her leadership has substantially strengthened the oversight of healthcare regulators and refined standards across the sector since 2021. Under her guidance, the PSA expanded stakeholder engagement and published notable works aimed at promoting effective and fair regulation in the industry.